True crime fans you are not ready for this one. The Natalia Grace story is already wild enough but now it's hitting Hulu with a new limited series called Good American Family starring Ellen Pompeo. If you think you know this case prepare to have your mind blown. It is a story packed with accusations secrets and enough twists to make your head spin.
From Headlines to Hulu: 'Good American Family' Brings the Natalia Grace Mystery to Your Screen
Good American Family is dropping on Hulu and it's all inspired by the real jaw-dropping story of Natalia Grace. Natalia is a Ukrainian-born woman with a rare type of dwarfism. Back in 2012 her adoptive parents made some shocking claims. They said Natalia wasn't a child at all but an adult pretending to be young and they even had her age legally changed.
The Hulu series with Ellen Pompeo from Grey's Anatomy playing Kristine Barnett the adoptive mother digs into why everyone got so caught up in Natalia's age and who she really was. Mark Duplass plays Michael Barnett the adoptive father and newcomer Imogen Faith Reid is Natalia. Prepare to be hooked because this is one complicated and disturbing case.
Twists Turns and "Truth": Decoding 'Good American Family' vs. the Real Natalia Grace Saga
In Good American Family Ellen Pompeo's Kristine Barnett adopts Natalia thinking she is a sweet seven-year-old. Kristine thinks of Natalia as her next "project" after getting famous for helping her son Jacob a kid with autism who was a physics genius. Her husband Michael is happy to finally have a daughter. Sounds like a heartwarming adoption story right? Wrong.
Things quickly go south. Both in the show and in real life the Barnetts start to believe Natalia is not a child. They get her age legally changed to 22 in 2012 and set her up in her own apartment. Both Kristine and Michael Barnett were actually charged with neglect but Michael was found not guilty and the charges against Kristine were dropped later.
The real Natalia Grace and Michael Barnett have both shared their versions of events in a docu-series called The Curious Case of Natalia Grace. It even got a third season recently and Natalia was on the cover of People magazine in January 2025. So there are a lot of different stories floating around.
He Said She Said: Accusations of Abuse Fly in the Natalia Grace Case
Here's where it gets messy. Natalia and the Barnetts have both accused each other of abuse. The Barnetts claim Natalia terrorized them while Natalia says they were mean and impatient with her because of her health issues and past trauma.
Initially things seemed okay. The family even took Natalia to Disneyland. But then the Barnetts say they got suspicious almost right away. Michael Barnett said in the docu-series that Kristine noticed Natalia had pubic hair when giving her a bath. He claims Natalia admitted to having periods and hiding bloody underwear. Things escalated from there. The Barnetts alleged Natalia did things like urinating on a younger sibling smearing feces and hoarding knives. Natalia denies many of these claims calling them exaggerated or fabricated.
In Good American Family they show some of these incidents. There is a scene where Kristine thinks Natalia tried to poison her coffee with cleaning fluid. Natalia in the docu-series claims Kristine staged the poisoning incident. Jacob Barnett Kristine's son even said this moment broke down trust in the family.
Natalia alleges that she was hit with a belt and pepper-sprayed by the Barnetts. Kristine Barnett has denied all abuse accusations calling them "just plain false" and saying she would be in jail if there was any real proof of abuse.
Age Identity and a Court Battle: The Core of the Natalia Grace Mystery
The big question at the center of it all is Natalia's age. The Barnetts became convinced she was older than she claimed. In Good American Family Kristine starts trying to "prove" Natalia is an adult after finding a tampon. She lines up doctors and eventually gets Natalia's age legally changed.
Just like in the show in real life an Indiana court did change Natalia's birth year from 2003 to 1989 back in 2012. Natalia was then made to live on her own in an apartment. Natalia in the docu-series talks about how these apartments were not accessible for her and she struggled to live independently.
Eventually a neighbor Cynthia Mans and her husband pastor Antwon Mans took Natalia in. They adopted her in 2023. The docu-series also revealed that Natalia's birth date was changed back to 2003 after a DNA test suggested she was around 22 years old now which would make her about 7 when adopted by the Barnetts.
Confrontation and "Forgiveness": Seeking Closure in a Complicated Case
Season two of the docu-series shows Natalia confronting Michael Barnett. He apologizes to her saying he "beat himself up for not being stronger." Natalia says she forgave him because he apologized on the show.
Good American Family also includes a version of this meeting between Natalia and Michael. Natalia asks him why he didn't help her more and he says he "didn't have the strength." In the show Kristine and Jacob then show up at Michael's house after he is acquitted. There is a tense exchange and in the end it seems Michael is siding with Natalia against Kristine. Jacob Kristine's son also apologizes to Natalia. The series ends with Natalia seemingly finding peace with her new adopted family the Mans.
Is Kristine Barnett a "Monster"? Her Side of the Story and Where She Is Now
Kristine Barnett has strongly denied all accusations against her. She claims Natalia was the one who was dangerous and manipulative. Kristine has called Natalia a "sociopath" and says she "takes advantage" of people's sympathy. Kristine maintains that she and Michael were victims in this situation.
In a Facebook post Kristine said abuse allegations against her are "just plain false" and that she would be in jail if they were true. She also accused Michael and Natalia of having the "same monster" but says that monster is not her.
Kristine Barnett is now an author and describes herself as a "Loving Mother Advocate for Children With Disabilities Writer & Activist" on her Facebook page. She has written a new memoir called Witch Hunt: The Kristine Barnett Story.
'Good American Family': More Than True Crime - A Story of Perspective and Bias
Hulu's Good American Family is not just a straight true crime retelling. It explores the story from different viewpoints showing how each character sees the events. The show flashes back and forth in time to create a complex family drama with thriller elements.
The creators say they want viewers to question their own biases as they watch. The series starts by showing things from the Barnett's perspective making you possibly side with them at first. But then it shifts to Natalia's side making you rethink everything.
Ellen Pompeo said she took the role because it was a "real creative challenge" to "disappear into a role" like this. The show blends dark and light moments showing both the happy and terrifying sides of this story. Ultimately Good American Family is about how our upbringing shapes us how we parent and how we see the world. It is a story that will leave you thinking long after you finish watching.
Ready to Watch? 'Good American Family' Streaming Schedule and How to Tune In
Want to dive into this complex story? Good American Family is now streaming on Hulu. The first two episodes are available now with new episodes dropping weekly on Wednesdays at 3 a.m. ET / midnight PT.
There are a total of eight episodes in this limited series. Here is the release schedule so far:
- Episodes 1 & 2: Streaming Now (March 19)
- Episode 3: March 27
- Episode 4: April 3
- Episode 5: April 10
- Episode 6: April 17
- Episode 7: April 24
- Episode 8 (Finale): April 30
You can watch Good American Family on Hulu. If you have a Disney+ bundle it might also be available on Disney+. Hulu offers free trials for new or returning subscribers so you might even be able to watch it for free. Check Hulu's website for all the details and get ready for a true crime story unlike any other.